Serowe 'Rebels' Face Suspension
Innocent Selatlhwa | Monday March 11, 2019 12:43
The party had initially cautioned the members who attended the meeting, stating that it was illegal adding that if such continued, action would be taken.
The meeting was purportedly called by ‘Serowe BDP elders’.
Party Secretary General, Mpho Balopi said despite their earlier statement, they would investigate and take relevant action if need be.
“There has been an official complaint about the meeting. We will now investigate the matter and if need be, action will be taken against those in the wrong,” Balopi said.
Balopi had written that: “We wish to advise that the meeting was held contrary to Article 45.3 of the constitution of the BDP which states that “The place, date and time of any meeting of an organ of the Party shall be determined by the Chairpersons of that meeting. Any caprice of fides in making such determination shall invalidate such meeting and may render the person making such determination liable to disciplinary action,” reads the statement.
According to a letter authored on March 1 by Serowe West Branch Chairperson Steady Sethaba, a question was raised by one elder demanding that the meeting be told on how there could have been an election of the President at TTC (at the regional congress) without their knowledge and in the absence of certain structural protocols being followed.
“This amounted to an illegal inquiry and review of the Central Region Congress by the said meeting in the presence of certain members who either knew or should have known that the meeting and its agenda were in contravention of the party constitution, rules and regulations,” Sethaba wrote.
Sethaba stated that the meeting was not called by an established organ of the party and therefore illegitimate as per article 43.5 of the party constitution.
He added that the meeting was held in the Serowe constituency without any involvement nor consent of the Serowe West Branch committee, it being their area of jurisdiction.
“The party members who participated in this meeting also contravened Article 14.1 and 2 of the party constitution read with the General Code of Conduct clauses 5, 6, 7, 11 and are therefore liable to disciplinary action. Of late, there has been an emergence of unruly behaviour by some members of the Serowe constituencies, which necessitates for appropriate remedial action before it gets out of control. We therefore, appeal to you for prompt action against these members,” he concluded.
One of the conveners for the Serowe meeting, Kadimo Oremeng last week said they had done nothing wrong.
“Democrats who are not in the party structures should be allowed to convene and discuss their issues,” he said.
“We were unhappy on some of the things that were done at the regional congress and people wanted to know what transpired. I do not see how we were wrong to give them that platform.”
Amongst those who attended the meeting who were noted in Sethaba’s letter are Tati East legislator Samson Moyo Guma and over 20 councillors amongst other party members.